Wire seal

ABSTRACT

The disclosure concerns a wire seal for sealing a gap between two components of a gas turbine, the wire seal including a first core and a second core spaced apart from one another, a wire pack extending around the first core and the second core, and a fastener for securing the wire pack to the first core and the second core, wherein the wire seal is curved. Various embodiments are disclosed, including various types of fastener. A method of manufacturing a wire seal is also disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to wire seals, and particularly to wire seals for sealing a gap between a picture frame and a first vane of a gas turbine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a gas turbine, there is a sealing interface between combustor outlet and the first vane of the turbine. Movement of the two parts relative to one another can be considerable, and a gap must be left between the parts to avoid contact. The gap is generally purged with cooling air. It has been appreciated that it would be advantageous to improve the design around this gap to, for example, reduce the cooling air requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is defined in the appended independent claims to which reference should now be made. Advantageous features of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

A first aspect of the invention provides a wire seal for sealing a gap between two components of a gas turbine, the wire seal comprising a first core and a second core spaced apart from one another, a wire pack extending around the first core and the second core, and a fastener for securing the wire pack to the first core and the second core, wherein the wire seal is curved. The plate can provide extra sealing in addition to the wire pack, for example if a gap opens in the wire pack during use. The wire pack can help protect the plate, thereby increasing the lifetime of the plate in a high temperature environment. The wire seal can cope with the large relative axial and radial movements of the picture frame and first vane (first turbine vane).

In one embodiment, the wire seal comprises a plate with a first face, a second face, a first edge comprising the first core, a second edge comprising the second core and two end edges, wherein the first edge is opposite the second edge, wherein the wire pack extends around the first face, the first edge, the second face and the second edge of the plate, and wherein the fastener secures the wire pack around the plate. The plate can improve the seal.

In one embodiment, the fastener comprises a first clamp for securing the wire pack to the first core and a second clamp for securing the wire pack to the second core.

In one embodiment, the fastener comprises at least one end piece attached at each end first core and the second core, to hold the wire pack in place adjacent to the first core and the second core. In one embodiment, the fastener extends around the wire pack from the first core to the second core, to hold the wire pack in place adjacent to the plate. In one embodiment, the wire seal comprises a first core wire attached to the first edge and a second core wire attached to the second edge. In one embodiment, the wire seal is a conical wire seal. In one embodiment, the first core is a first core wire and the second core is a second core wire.

A second aspect of the invention provides a gas turbine comprising a wire seal as described above. In one embodiment, the gas turbine comprises a combustor and a first vane separated by a gap, and wherein the wire seal is arranged to seal the gap. Leakage reduction through this gap can thereby be achieved. In one embodiment, the combustor comprises a picture frame and wherein the gap is between the first vane and the picture frame. In one embodiment, the gas turbine comprises a socket in the picture frame, and wherein the wire seal is seated in the socket. This can hold the wire seal in place.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method of manufacturing a wire seal for sealing a gap between two components of a gas turbine, the wire seal comprising a first core and a second core spaced apart from one another, a wire pack extending around the first core and the second core, and a fastener for securing the wire pack to the first core and the second core, wherein the wire seal is curved, comprising the steps of placing the wire pack around the plate and fastening the wire pack to the plate with the fastener. In one embodiment, the wire pack is made of wire and is placed around the first core and the second core by winding the wire repeatedly around the first core and the second core.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a wire seal;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of the wire seal of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show cross-sections of part of a gas turbine comprising a wire seal, during different phases in gas turbine operation;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of another wire seal; and

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a further wire seal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a wire seal 10 comprising a first core wire 12, a second core wire 14, a plate 16, a first clamp 18, a second clamp 20 and a wire pack 22.

The first core wire 12 is attached to one edge (a first edge) of the plate 16 and the second core wire 14 is attached to the opposite edge (a second edge) of the plate 16. The wire pack 22 extends around the first and second core wires 12, 14 and the plate 16. The wire pack is held in place by a fastener, in this case the first and second clamps 18, 20. The first clamp extends around the portion of the wire pack closest to the first core wire, with the second clamp arranged in the same way close to the second core wire. As the plate is thinner than the diameter of the first and second core wires, the effective width (the width including the plate/core wires) of the cross-section of the wire pack 22 perpendicular to the plate 16 is greater at the core wires 12, 14 than in the main portion of the wire pack 22 at the plate 16.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the wire seal 10 in FIG. 1. In contrast to FIG. 1, where only a short portion of seal is shown and curvature is not shown, FIG. 2 shows the curvature of the wire seal 10.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the wire seal 10 in a gas turbine. The gas turbine comprises a first vane 30, a picture frame 32 and a bulkhead 34. The bulkhead 34 may be an integral part of the picture frame 32 or a separate component attached to the picture frame 32, as is shown in FIG. 3. The wire seal 10 extends across a gap 36 between the first vane 30 and the picture frame 32/bulkhead 34. The first clamp 18 of the wire seal 10 contacts the first vane 30, and the second clamp 20 of the wire seal 10 fits within a socket 38 in the bulkhead 34 (or in the picture frame 32).

In a gas turbine, a plurality of picture frames (sequential liner outlets) are arranged around the longitudinal axis of the gas turbine in a ring, with the picture frames typically being attached to sequential liners (combustor linings) and the sequential liners typically surrounding can combustors. The picture frames generally all intersect a plane perpendicular to the gas turbine longitudinal axis. The wire seal discussed in this application can be applied on either the inner or outer diameters of the picture frames (the edge of the picture frames closest to the gas turbine longitudinal axis). This can allow for single vane/blade assembly and/or disassembly during manufacture, maintenance and repair.

In FIG. 3, the gas turbine is shown during a heating phase. In FIG. 4, the gas turbine is shown in a running phase during normal operation, and in FIG. 5, the gas turbine is shown in a forced cool down phase. During the different phases, the first vane 30 moves relative to the picture frame 32, varying the shape and width of the gap 36. The movement of the first vane 30 relative to the picture frame 32 includes both axial and radial movement relative to the gas turbine longitudinal axis (also the wire seal longitudinal axis, in wire seal longitudinal direction 40). It is this movement that the wire seal 10 can be designed to withstand, maintaining a seal across the gap 36.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative wire seal 10. As with the wire seal of FIG. 1, this wire seal comprises a plate 16 and a wire pack 22, but does not comprise first and second core wires. Optionally, core wires could be added to this embodiment. The embodiment of FIG. 6 comprises a fastener that differs from the fastener shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, four end pieces 60 are provided as a fastener. These end pieces are attached to the four corners of the plate 16 and, as with the clamps shown in FIG. 1, the end pieces 60 are arranged to hold the wire pack 22 on the plate 16. The plate 16 extends beyond the wire pack 22 at the sides to provide a surface for attachment of the clamps, although this is not essential. Similarly, slots are provided in the end pieces in which the plate is placed, and these slots are also optional. Providing a larger contact surface for the end pieces 60 on the plate 16 can allow for a better join between the end pieces 60 and the plate 16.

FIG. 7 shows another alternative wire seal 10. As in FIG. 6, four end pieces 60 are provided. In addition to the end pieces 60, a further fastener in the form of a central clamp is provided across the wire seal 10, extending across the wire seal 10 from one end edge of the plate to the other end edge, with the central clamp extending in the same direction as the first edge and the second edge. The central clamp comprises two central clamp end pieces 72 and at least one connecting bar 74.

In a method of manufacturing a wire seal 10 as shown in FIG. 1, the first and second core wires 12, 14 are first attached to the plate 16. The wire pack 22 is then placed around the first and second core wires 12, 14 and the plate 16, for example by wrapping a wire repeatedly around the first and second core wires 12, 14 and the plate 16 to create the wire pack 16. Before the wire is wrapped around, one end of it may be attached, for example by welding, to one of the first and second core wires 12, 14 and/or the plate 16. After the wire pack 22 is in place, the first and second clamps 18, 20 are attached.

The wire that makes up the wire pack 22 is described above as being attached to another part of the wire seal before being wrapped around the plate, but one or both ends of the wire may be attached either before or after the wire is wrapped around the plate.

To manufacture the wire seal 10 as shown in FIG. 6, the plate 16 is first attached to the end pieces 60 and the wire pack 22 is then placed around the plate 16, for example by wrapping a wire repeatedly around the plate 16. The end pieces 60 may alternatively be attached after the wire pack 22 is placed around the plate 16.

To manufacture the wire seal 10 as shown in FIG. 7, the same method of manufacture for the embodiment in FIG. 6 can again be used, with the addition of adding a central clamp. The central clamp can be added in two ways. Firstly, the central clamp can be made in pieces and joined together once it is in place around the wire pack 22, in which case the central clamp can be attached at any time after the wire pack 22 is in place. Secondly, the central clamp can be made as a single piece (or made in pieces and then assembled before attachment to the wire pack) and then slid onto the wire pack from the first edge (or from the second edge, in the case of a straight wire seal). In this case, the central clamp must be attached after the wire pack 22 is in place and before the end pieces have been attached, in embodiments such as that of FIG. 7 where the end pieces have a diameter larger than the effective width of the wire pack at the point on the wire pack where the central clamp is attached (as explained in more detail below).

The wire seal 10 is described above as sealing the gap between a picture frame and a first vane of a gas turbine, but more generally the wire seal may also seal the gap between two components, for example between the first vane and another part of the combustor such as the combustor lining. The components to be sealed would normally both be static (static-to-static sealing).

The wire seal 10 may be straight as shown in the small portions shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, or may be curved in a circumferential direction (relative to the wire seal longitudinal axis), as shown in FIG. 2. A curved wire seal is preferable for the wire seals used in a gas turbine as described in FIGS. 3 to 5. The wire seal may also be a full ring. Generally though, multiple wire seals will be used in a ring. In one example, 20 wire seals are placed around a 360° annular joint, each extending 15° around the gas turbine circumference in the circumferential direction 42. Each picture frame around the gas turbine circumference preferably has at least one wire seal on the inner diameter (inner platform), as this can help enable single vane/blade assembly/disassembly.

The wire seal can be annular. In the case of an annular wire seal, the wire seal describes (a section of) a ring in which the first edge and the second edge are at the same distance from the gas turbine longitudinal axis (wire seal longitudinal axis); that is, the radius of curvature of the first edge and the second edge are the same. A radial wire seal could also be used, in which the second edge is further from the gas turbine longitudinal axis than the first edge and in the same plane perpendicular to the gas turbine longitudinal axis direction.

Preferably though, the wire seal is a conical wire seal. The conical wire seal has a second edge that is further from the gas turbine longitudinal axis than the first edge and in a different plane perpendicular to the gas turbine longitudinal axis direction.

For completeness, it is noted that a cone is a three-dimensional geometric shape that tapers smoothly from a flat base; the base may be circular or may be another shape. Mathematically, a conical wire seal is conical frustum, being in the shape of the surface of the frustum of a cone (i.e. a section of the cone not including the apex, also known as a truncated cone), in contrast to an annular wire seal in which the wire seal follows the shape of the surface of a cylinder.

The first and second core wires 12, 14 are optional, and one or both may be omitted, such as in the embodiments in FIGS. 6 and 7. For example, one of both of the core wires of the embodiment of FIG. 1 may be omitted, and one or two core wires may be added to the embodiments of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. Alternatively, one or two core wires may be included as an integral part of plate 16, or may simply be the first edge 25 and second edge 26 of the plate 16 respectively. The two core wires preferably have the same diameter, but may also have different diameters.

Although most of the plate 16 is not directly visible in the Figures, the plate 16 can be described in more detail as follows, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The plate 16 has a first face 23, a second face 24 and four edges 25, 26, 27. Of these four edges, the wire pack 22 extends around a first edge 25 and a second edge 26, the first edge 25 and the second edge 26 being opposite one another. In FIG. 1, the first edge 25 and the second edge 26 are adjacent to the first core wire 12 and the second core wire 14 respectively. Two end edges 27 complete the plate 16, and it is one of these end edges 27 that is visible in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7. Typically, the first edge and the second edge are longer than the two end edges. Typically, the two end edges are the same length. Typically, in the case of a wire seal extending in a circumferential direction (relative to the wire seal longitudinal axis), the second edge is (slightly) longer than the first edge and the radius of curvature of the second edge is (slightly) larger than the radius of curvature of the first edge. The plate 16 may be a solid sheet or may be a mesh. In embodiments with a plate, the first core and the second core are part of the plate, at the first and second edges respectively. First and second core wires may additionally be attached to the first and second cores respectively in such cases. The plate is optional and may be omitted in some embodiments. When no plate is present, the first and second cores correspond to the first and second core wires.

In embodiments comprising core wires, the plate is preferably thinner than the diameter of the first and second core wires, but in some embodiments the plate may be the same width as or wider than the diameter of the first and second core wires. The plate and the first and second core wires are described as separate components in the examples described above, but they may be one integrated component. The core wires may also be omitted entirely, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7.

The attachment between the first and second core wires and the plate 16 can be a physical attachment such as a weld. Alternatively or additionally, a slot can be provided in the first and second core wires, and the plate is arranged in the slot. If a slot is provided, a physical attachment between the first and second core wires and the plate is optional, as the wire pack can hold the first and second core wires and the plate together.

The wire pack 22 may be made up of one or more wires repeatedly wound around the plate (and the first and second core wires in embodiments with core wires). Alternative wire packs are also possible; for example, a mesh or a chain could be wound around instead of a wire. The wire pack wire, mesh, chain or the like is typically attached at each end to stop it from unravelling, and can be attached to any appropriate part of the wire seal, for example a fastener, the plate or another part of the wire pack.

The wire pack is held on to the plate by a fastener or fasteners. Without appropriate fastening, the wire pack can unravel and/or slide off the end edges of the plate, and the clamps are designed to restrict the movement of the wire pack relative to the plate. The wire pack can also be fastened directly to the plate and/or to the clamps.

Various fasteners are described in this application, but other types of fastener and modifications to the described fasteners are possible. Any combination of the described fasteners is also possible in addition to those combinations already described. For example, the fasteners of the wire seals of FIGS. 1 and 6 could both be used on the same wire seal, to improve the clamping of the wire pack.

The first and second clamps 18, 20 can vary in shape but are each typically designed to encircle an end edge of the plate. The first and second clamps may be made as a spring so that the first and second clamps are in tension and are pushing on the wire pack to keep the wire pack against the plate. This can also help ensure that the first and second clamps do not slip off the wire pack, and may be particularly useful in cases without core wires. The first and second clamps could be attached to one another by one or more connecting bars extending across the surface of the wire pack (in the direction perpendicular to the first and second edges of the plate), in a similar manner to the connecting bar 74 between the central clamp end pieces 72 in the embodiment of FIG. 7. The first and second clamps can also be attached to the wire pack or the plates. The first and second clamps are shown in FIG. 1 with a rounded cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the first and second edges of the plate, but the clamp could also have a square or rectangular cross-section, similar to the shape of the central clamp end piece 72.

The end pieces 60 in the wire seal of FIG. 6 are cylindrical with circular faces, but clamps of a different shape could be provided, such as square- or hexagonal-faced clamps. Two or more of the clamps could also be connected together; for example, the two end pieces at either end of one end edge of the plate could be connected or could be a single plate extending along part or all of the extent of the end edge.

In embodiments with first and second core wires, the end pieces can be attached to the first and second core wires and/or the plate. The first and second core wires may extend beyond the end edges of the plate, in which case holes would be provided in the end pieces to connect with the first and second core wires. This could provide a better join between the first and second core wires and the end pieces. The end pieces may additionally be attached to the wire pack.

The diameter of the end pieces in the wire seals of FIGS. 6 and 7 is larger than the width of the wire pack (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the plate). Alternatively, the diameter of the end pieces may be the same as the width of the wire pack. In some embodiments the diameter of the end pieces may even be slightly smaller than the width of the wire pack, as long as the diameter of the end pieces is sufficient to hold the wire pack on to the plate. The diameter of the different end pieces may vary; for example, the two end pieces adjacent to the first edge of the plate could be smaller in diameter than the two end pieces adjacent to the second edge of the plate.

The first vane of the gas turbine may comprise one or more slots to accommodate the shape of fasteners such as end pieces 60. This can improve the seal and can also ensure that the wire seal remains in the correct place in the gap. In some of the embodiments the fastener contacts the first vane and/or the bulkhead/picture frame, and in other embodiments the wire pack contacts the first vane and/or the bulkhead/picture frame.

The central clamp 70 may be one integral part, or may be two or more parts. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the central clamp 70 is three connected parts, namely two central clamp end pieces 72 and one connecting bar 74. Various other central clamp arrangements are possible. For example, the connecting bar is narrower than the central clamp end pieces (in the direction across the seal perpendicular to the first and second edges of the plate) in the embodiment of FIG. 7, but could be the same width or wider than the central clamp end pieces. The T-clamp could have more than two central clamp end pieces and/or more than one connecting bar. Subsequent connecting bars could be on the same face of the wire seal as the first connecting bar and/or on the opposite face (i.e. on the face that is not shown in FIG. 7). The T-clamp could be used without any other form of fastener, or in combination with another fastener. The point of the T-clamp is generally to hold the wire pack on the plate, both so that the wire pack does not slide off the end edges and also so that the wires making up the wire pack are kept close to the faces of the plate 16. This stops the wire pack from expanding or bending away from the plate.

The picture frame 32, bulkhead 34 and first vane 30 may all vary in shape compared to the embodiments shown above, and the design can depend on variables such as the shape of the wire seal and the relative motion of the picture frame/bulkhead and the first vane.

The socket 38 in the picture frame/bulkhead is optional, and in some embodiments is not necessary. For example, a socket could alternatively be provided in the first vane to hold the wire seal in place. Sockets could also be provided on both the first vane and the picture frame/bulkhead. Other connecting components could also be provided to pivotally attach the wire seal to the first vane or the picture frame/bulkhead.

Typically, the gap is also purged with a cooling fluid such as cooling air, and there can therefore be a higher pressure on the side of the wire seal further from the hot gas path than on the side of the seal closer to the hot gas path. This pressure differential could hold the seal in place, and can also improve the quality of the seal.

The wire seals described herein are preferably for sealing gaps between two stationary parts, rather than gaps between a rotor and a stator.

Various modifications to the embodiments described are possible and will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention which is defined by the following claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS

10 wire seal

12 first core wire

14 second cord wire

16 plate

18 first clamp

20 second clamp

22 wire pack

23 first face

24 second face

25 first edge

26 second edge

27 end edge

30 first vane

32 picture frame

34 bulkhead

36 gap

38 socket

40 wire seal longitudinal direction (gas turbine longitudinal direction)

42 circumferential direction

60 end piece

70 central clamp

72 central clamp end piece

74 connecting bar 

1. A wire seal for sealing a gap between two components of a gas turbine, the wire seal comprising: a first core and a second core spaced apart from one another, a wire pack extending around the first core and the second core, and a fastener for securing the wire pack to the first core and the second core, wherein the wire seal is curved.
 2. The wire seal of claim 1, comprising: a plate with a first face, a second face, a first edge including the first core, a second edge including the second core and two end edges, wherein the first edge is opposite the second edge, wherein the wire pack extends around the first face, the first edge, the second face and the second edge of the plate, and wherein the fastener secures the wire pack around the plate.
 3. The wire seal of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises: a first clamp for securing the wire pack to the first core and a second clamp for securing the wire pack to the second core.
 4. The wire seal of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises: at least one end piece attached at each end of the first core and the second core, to hold the wire pack in place adjacent to the first core and the second core.
 5. The wire seal of claim 1, wherein the fastener extends around the wire pack from the first core to the second core, to hold the wire pack in place adjacent to the plate.
 6. The wire seal of claim 2, comprising: a first core wire attached to the first edge and a second core wire attached to the second edge.
 7. The wire seal of claim 1, wherein the wire seal is a conical wire seal.
 8. The wire seal of claim 1, wherein the first core is a first core wire and the second core is a second core wire.
 9. A gas turbine comprising the wire seal of claim
 1. 10. The gas turbine of claim 9, comprising: a combustor and a first vane separated by a gap, and wherein the wire seal is arranged to seal the gap.
 11. The gas turbine of claim 10, wherein the combustor comprises: a picture frame and wherein the gap is between the first vane and the picture frame.
 12. The gas turbine of claim 11, comprising: a socket in the picture frame, and wherein the wire seal is seated in the socket.
 13. A method of manufacturing a wire seal for sealing a gap between two components of a gas turbine, the wire seal having a first core and a second core spaced apart from one another, a wire pack extending around the first core and the second core, and a fastener for securing the wire pack to the first core and the second core, wherein the wire seal is curved, the method comprising: placing the wire pack around the plate; and fastening the wire pack to the plate with the fastener.
 14. The method of claim 13, in which the wire pack is made of wire and is placed around the first core and the second core by winding the wire repeatedly around the first core and the second core. 